Collector&#39;s stamp



March 5, 1935. J MATT I 1,993,332

COLLECTOR'S STAMP Filed April 21, 1934 INVENTOR TTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1935 COLLECTORS STAMP George J. Matt, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Roberts Numbering Machine Company, New York,N'. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 21, 1934, Serial NoL72 1,70 1

'16 Claims.

The invention. relates to a collectors stamp, and. more particularly to a portable machine for making, simultaneously, a plurality of records of each transaction in which the machine is used,

5 through movement of the printing characters by means of a spring, the control of which is by a manually operative mechanism.

A machine of the type to which the invention relates-is used for thepurpose of impressing upon the. record book of a debtor, and upon a record strip, within the machine inaccessible to the collector, full data as to the time and amount of collection, with identification markings indicating the debtor and the collector. By the use of the. machine ofthe invention, the data upon the record. strip must conform to that upon the debtorsrecord book, and alteration of the entries upon. this record strip, or a failure to make entries thereon is. prevented.

The various mechanisms in the machine must be so constructed and arranged as to be contained within sufliciently small. bulk to make the stamp conveniently portable, and at the same time avoid any delicate or complicated mechanisms which are apt to break or get outv of adjustment in.a manner'to. interfere with the continued operativenessof the machine to an extent to prevent them making of. proper records, either upon the debtors record. book or. upon the concealed record. strip. The invention contemplates the use, of a reciprocatory-frame carrying a plurality of independently revoluble indicia wheels having printing charactersthereon, which frame israpidly moved when. making an impression, by a compression-spring of fairly high. tension so asto ensure a staccato blow of the printing characters upon the record. strip and carbon strips associated therewith, thus ensuring a. clean sharp imprintof the data indicated by theprinting wheels upon. the debtors record bookgand a. duplication of this data upon the record strip within the machine. Manually operative means are provided in the machine for imparting movement to the reciprocatory frame away from the record strip,

which means includes therein structural characteristics by which the parts. operativeupon saidframe will be so held as to hold the tension of. the spring and prevent the accidental application of the energy of the springto the reciprocatory frame.

Each of. the indicia wheels is provided with cameo. or typo printing characters spaced in relation to each other, and within the recesses between these printing. characters are non-printing characters duplicating printing characters on the .wheel and so spaced therefrom as-toindicate through a'suitable sight opening, the setting of the other or printing character of the pair when in the, printing position. These wheels are manually turned, the absence of ink saturated fabric strips preventing the fouling of the wheels in a mannert'o interfere with the turning thereof .by the hand without the aid of an instrument of any kind,,or to soilthe hand.

It is essentiaLin a. machine embodying the in: ventionj that means. he provided for advancing the record stripand' its associated. carbonstrips following the making of each impressiomtand that this means be automatically actuated asfla result. of movement of the ram carrying the indicia wheels.

To. facilitate the threading of the record and associated strips through the machine, I provide a removable guidemember which may be mounted'in the machine after the reelsof record, and associated carbon strips are in place. I also pro vide means firmly holding the supply roll'in'position' .duringlthe threading operation, which means are utilized to'develop sufiicient braking action upon said supply reel, during the feeding movement of the strips, to avoid such overruns ning thereof during the feeding of the'strips' as might create excessive slack and develop wrinkling of the carbon strips'in a manner to interfere with the sharpness of the impression'made therethrough,

The invention consists primarily in a col.-

lectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the b'ottomthereof,

supply and rewind reels-upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality. of superimposed "strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface'presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways,. a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said, shaft, and project:- ing through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and nonprinting characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force saidreciprocatory frame towardsaid lower casing,:and manually operative means acting uponsaidfra'rne placing the stamp upon a flat object. This is to to move it away from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing, 7

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a collectors stamp embodying the invention with the casing broken away to disclose operativemechanisms of the machine; a

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lower casing showing the manner of mounting the composite printing and recording strips in the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a detail viewof the mechanisms controlling the spring energy for actuating the machine.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. I

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, I employ a dished lower casing 10 having an opening 11 through the bottom thereof. Within this casing are side bars 12, each having bearing saddles 13 and 14for a supply reel 15 of a record and associated carbon strips, the upper carbon strip being shown at 16, the record strip at 17 and the lower carbon strip at 18, and a rewind reel'at 19. The coated surface of the strip 16 is engaged with the record strip 17, and the coated surface of the carbon surface 18 is presented toward the opening 11.

The lower casing 10 is supported from a base plate 20 by means of aside bar 21and screws passing therethrough and through one of the side bars 12, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The other side bar 12 is secured to the side wall of the lower casing by means of screws,.or in any other desired manner. Portions of the bars 12 are extended, as shown at 2'2, and pass through slots formed in the front and rear walls of the lower casing.

The base 20,adjacent the side bars 21, is of greater thickness than other parts thereof, forming a gauge for positioning a record book in relation to the printing line and spacing the bottom of the lower casing 10 from the base 20 to an extent to form a space or slot 23 for the reception of said book. Y

Loosely mounted in the base 20 are a plurality of presser or clamp plungers 24 freely movable toward and from the bottom of the lower casing 10, so that when a book is properly positioned, it will be held against displacement by merely avoid shifting of the book while the machine is actuated, in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter. These plungers are positioned upon opposite sides of the opening 11.

Inset in the base 20, along the longitudinal center of the opening 11, is a soft platen. 25 to ensure the making of a clean impression with the actuation of the machine upon the record book,

and also upon the record sheet. This platen is .desirable although not necessary.

It is essential. that the principal shall have access to the record strip, and desirable that the collector shall not have access 'thereto. This record strip is used by the principal, not only in characters.

checking up the amount of the collections and the accounts to which these collections are to be applied, but to enable the making of entries in the proper accounts in order that the office books may accord with the debtors record book, and to determine the failure to make payments when due. I

To prevent access to the record strip by a collector while permitting the free access thereto by one authorized to consult the record strip, I provide a top casing 26 closing the lower casing 10 and supporting the various mechanisms utilized in impressing the data as to each transaction, and for feeding the record and its associated carbon strips through the machine.

Said casing 26 has a sight opening 27 in the front wall thereof and carries a U-shaped bracket 28 carrying plates 29 having vertical guideways 30 therein and base extensions 31 coinciding in length with the side bars 12 and having upper bearing saddles 32 registering with the saddles 13 and 14 respectively. The side bars 12 have a circular stop recess 33 therein alined with the guideways 30.

Mounted within the bracket 28 is a vertically reciprocatory U-frame 34 carrying a shaft 35 on which are idly mounted, side by side, a plurality of indicia wheels 36.

Each of the indicia Wheels 36 has'a plurality of printing characters 37, spaced apart by depressions in which are indicated duplicate characters 38 of those appearing upon the printing surfaces. The printingcharacters 37 are cameo or typo, while the non-printing characters 38 are preferably in intaglio so that the lines may be filled with suitable coloring matter to enable the user of the machine byobservation of the non-printing characters through the sight opening 2'7 to visualize the setting of the other or printing character of the pair of duplicate characters.

In the drawing, the various indicia wheels have twelve printing characters about the perimeter thereof, and there are also twelve non-printing The printing character of one pair is spaced substantially 120 from the non-printing character of the pair so that when any printing character is above the opening 11, the corresponding non-printing character will be positioned at the sight opening 27.

Associated with each indicia wheel 36 is a ratchet wheel 39, the number of teeth of which will correspond with the number of printing characters. Associated with each ratchet wheel is a detent pawl 40, the teeth of the ratchet wheel and the detent pawl being so positioned as to be operativ'ely engaged, one with the other, when a printing character is in its printing position above the opening 11. In setting the various indicia wheels, said, wheels aremoved step by step so that as each printing character and an adjacent non-printing character occupy 30 in arc of the wheel, the movement of the wheel must be 30 with each step, thus preventing the accidental locating of a non-printing character in-the printing position instead of a printing character.

Passing across the U-frame 34 are two bars 41 and 42, the detent pawls 40 being pivoted upon the bar 41 and the bar 42 being engaged by a curved portion 43 of a comb spring 44, the teeth of which respectively engage the detent pawls associated with the different indicia wheels. Said combspring 44 is provided with a looped portion 45 passing between and engaging the bar 42 and the heels of the respective pawls 40. One tooth of the comb spring does not engage a de tent pawl, but is utilized-in connection with the operation ofthe strip feeding mechanism in" a. manner-tobe more fully referred to hereinafter.

Su-rmountingthe'U frame- 34 is a second upwardly directed U-frame 46 having ad'jacent the top thereof, a shaft 47', upon'the opposite ends of which anti-friction rollers 48 are mounted. This U-frame 46 -is provided with-vertical guide openings 49in the opposite legs thereofi Passing through said guide openingan'd'through the legs of the U-frame 28is arotatable-shaftfio forming a part 0f the mechanism by which the actuation of the indicia wheelsismanually controlled.

Carried by the U-frame 28 is a stud :51 co-opersting -with which is a sleeve52'carried by the U-frame 46 The stud 51 and the sl'eeve 52 have telescopic relation oneto theother and about both of 'these parts'is a'heavycoiled' spring 53 for: de

velop'ing energy utilized inimparting a rapid movement to the U-fram'es 34 and 46 and the various parts carried thereby, so as't'o" cause the printing operation to be by a staccato blow upon the strips :16, 17 and 18 andtherethrough upon the debtors record book .position'edin the slot 23.

The shaft- 50, adjacent each en'dthereof, is

provided with a cam 54 having a gradual rise 55 and-an: abruptfall56. Intermediate the rise and fall is adepression 5'7. Eachcam 54 co-operates with an anti-friction roller 48 andha's'associated therewith a segmental ratchet wheel. 58. Co-operating'with said ratchet wheel is a spring pressed detent pawl 59; A segmental ratchet pawl is used to permit return movement of the cams 'in the event that the operator imparts excessive movement thereto when raising the indicia' wheels andtensioning spring-53. The pawl 59 is pivoted upon the U-bracket 28.

Carried by the shaft 50 is a crank 60', the handholdportion 61 of which is pivotally supported so as to permit the turning of the: crank in a manner to engage Saidhand-hoIdWith' openings 62 inone leg. of thebracket'28 'andin'the casing 26 so as to lock said shaft against accidental movement when the" machine is not in use.

The strip feeding mechanism includes therein aratchet wheel 63 carried by the rewind-reel 19, a spring pressed detent pawl64" mounted in. the lowercasing 10 and co-operating with sa-id ratchet wheel, and means carried by the U-frame'34 engageable with said ratchet wheel upon'the downward movement of said frameto impart turning movement thereto upon the upward movement thereof; This means comprises a pawl 65 pivoted uponthe frame 34=and having a cam surface 66 which, by engagement with the ratchet wheel 63, oscillates said pawl so as to bring the tooth 67 of the pawlinto engaging relation with the ratchet wheel 63; The cam surface 66 is also adapted to engage-the teeth of said-ratchet wheel in the event of over-running ofthe rewind reel or of any leg in the spring acting upon the actuating pawl 65. The pawl 65 is pivoted upon therod 41 and has an angular arm 68 acted upon by one of the teeth of the'comb spring 44, as shown-more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Inthreading the composite strips 16, 17 and 18through the machine, andto hold the portion thereof between the reels 15 and19 closely adjacent the bottom of: the lower casing 10; I provide guide rods 69'and '70 extending across said casing V stripsthrough themachine, I preferably pro= videthese rods with end plates '71ihav'ing a snu'g fit with the side bars 12 of the lower: casing, each end plate having a plurality of outwardlyextending lugs -72 seated in notches in the top of said side bars. 7

The plates 71 project across the curved portion 33' and are recessed to register with these openings, as shown at 73; In this manner, the frame composed of the guide-rods 69 and '70 and the end plates 71 is removable from the casing to facilitate the mounting of a composite strip in, or its removal from, the lower casing 10. a

Each side bar 12, adjacent the bearing saddle 13 therein, has secured thereto a forked spring clip 7 for holding the supply reel 15 upon said bearing when the machine is open, to permit'a convenient mounting of'the arbors of said reel in, and their removal from, the bearing saddles, and to oifer suflicient resistance to the turning movement of there-e1 during the'feeding of T the strips to-prevent excessive creation of slackas a result of overrunning of the reel. 2

The top casing 26 is hinged to the lower casing 10 by means of hinge members 75 pivoted to'one end of theside bars 12 of the lower casing.

The two casings may be locked in relation to each other by means of any' suitable locking mechanism 76, a conventional snap lock being shown in the drawing.

The shaft 35, movable in the guideways 30, and the shaft 50, movable in the guide openings 49, ensure a right line movement to the indicia wheels with the actuation of'the machine.

The manner of use of the herein described stamp, and its mode of operation is substantially as follows:

A collector is furnished with a list of debtors, the amount to be ccllectedfrorn each, and all other information necessary 'to enable him to properly record collectionsfrom each debtor. The record. and carbon strips 16, 1'7 and 18 upon a supply reel 15 are mounted in thebearing saddles'13, and the free end-thereof secured to said reel in any desired manner, as by means "of a slot" passing through the rewind reel 19. The frame carryingthe guide rods 69-70'is removed from the lower casing 16 during this attachment of the strips to the rewind reel and until said rewind reel has been positioned in the bcarin saddles 13.

When the reel" so positioned, the detent pawl 64 prevents clockwise rotation of the rewind reel, so that when the frame, including said guide rods 69-70, is replaced in said lower casing, the supply reel 15 only will be turned so as to bring the composite strip closely adjacent the bottomof the lower casingas a result of'the forcing of said guidebars and the end plates 71 thereof into position within said casing. The top casing 26 is then closed upon, and

frames increasing the tension of said spring which is normally under. tension.

The depressions 5'7 prevent the energy of the spring from imparting turning movement to the terms 54- in a manner topermit the descent of the frames34 and 46. To guard against acciwrinkles in the carbon strips.

dental rotation of the shaft 50, the hand-hold portion of the crank 60 isturned downwardly and. the hand-hold 61 passed through the openings 62.

When collecting money from a debtor, the collector inserts the debtors record book in the slot 23 between the base 20 and the bottom of the lower casing 10. The shoulder formed by the thick portion of said base serves to accurately gauge the position of the book to ensure the various items set upon the indicia wheels appearing in their proper positionlaterally of the book, side gauge markings upon the outer wall of the lower casing being used to accurately locate the line of the book upon which the record is to be made. When a book is once properly positioned, the collector sets the stamp upon any flat object, the weight of the stamp forcing the plungers 24 inwardly so as to firmly hold the book in its adjusted position.

Before inserting the book in the slot 23, the collector rotates the various indicia wheels 36 to bring the various printing characters 37 into printing position. Said wheels are turned by hand, and the non-printing characters 38, as a result of the turning of the wheels, are exposed through the sight opening 2'? in the top casing 26, so that by merely observing these characters the collector may determine the setting of the printing characters 3'7.

When the wheels necessary to indicate the desired data have been properly set, and the debtors record book has been properly positioned in the manner above described, the collector merely disengages the hand-hold 61 from the openings 62, and turns the shaft until the rise of the cams passes out of engagement with the anti-friction rollers 48, thus permitting the expansion of the spring 53 in a manner to impart a swift downward movement to the frames 34 and 46 to an extent to engage the printing characters upon the wheels 36 with the strip 16 with a staccato blow.

The rapid downward movement of the indicia wheels, and the force of the blow resulting from the expansion of the spring 53 make, through the carbon strip 16, a sharp impression of the printing characters upon the record strip 17, and the carbon. strip 18 makes a sharp impression, a duplicate of that upon the carbon strip, upon the debtors record book. The record strip 17 between the carbon strips 16 and 18 prevents puncturing of the carbonstrips as a result of the force of the blow from the printing characters. The tension of the spring 53 is sufficiently greatto prevent any rebound of the indicia wheels or the U-frames carrying same.

With downward movement of the U-frame 34, the feeding pawl 65 is forced to the right, Fig. 2, as it rides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 63, this movement of said pawl being against the tension of the tooth of the comb spring 44 acting upon the angular extension 68. During this movement, the detent pawl 64 prevents clockwise movement of the rewind reel 19 in a manner to create slack in the said strips to an extent which might result in the formation of Such wrinkles result in an imperfect impression.

After the actuation of the stamp in the manner above described by the expansion of the spring 53, it is necessary for the collector to again turn the shaft 50, during which movement the rise 55 of the cams 54 will impart upward movement to the U-frames 34 and 46, during the initial part of which upward movement the feeding pawl 65 turns the rewind reel 19 to an extent to advance the various strips so as to secure a proper spacing between succeeding impressions upon the record strip 1'7. Upon the initial upward movement of the indicia wheels 36 and-before there has been any substantial move ment of the rewind reel, said indicia wheels are disengaged from the strip 16 so as to permit the free run of the strips 16, 17 and 18 without likelihood of tearing said strip 16.

. The fall 56 of the cams 54 affords clearance for the downward movement of the rollers 48, and the recesses 57 in the cams 54 define the extent of movement required of the cams to proper- 1y tension the spring 53 and prevent the accidental operation of themachine by excess movement of the shaft 50.- As the tension'of'the spring 53 is increased as a result of the upward movement of the reciprocatory printing unit, the pawl 59 engages the'ratchet wheel 58 preventing the actuation of the machine in the event that the user accidentally loses control of the actuating crank. r

The crank has clockwise movement only, the pawl and ratchet mechanism 58; and 59 preventing contra-clockwise movement of this handheld when the indicia wheels are in the printing position.

During the feeding movement of the strips, the spring clips "74 acting upon the arbors of the supply reel 15 offer suificient resistance to the turning movement of said wheel to ensure the clips being held taut in their run across the opening 11 in the bottom of the casing 10. With downward movement of the indicia wheels, following their initial engagement with the strip 16, the strips 16,. 1'7 and 18 will be forced through the opening 11 into engagement with the debtors record book, duringwhich downward movement the reel 15 has slight turning movement to create the necessary slack to permit this movement of the strips. Subsequent actuation of the rewind reel will take up this slack and impart further turning movement to the supply reel.

When a stamp is returned to the possession of the principal, the record strip 17 will have impressed thereon full data as to each collection made, thus not only checking the money returns of the collector, but affording a record by which proper entries may be made in the accounts of the several debtors to indicate the status of their account at all times. It is impossible for a collector to apply funds received from one debtor to the account of another debtor, since the data upon the record strip will indicate not only the collections which were made, but the collections which were not made, the latter being indicated by the absence of any record upon the strip corresponding with the lists from which the collector worked.

While it is desirable to prevent access by the collector to the interior of the stamp, this is not necessary since such access will not permit any alterations in the entries upon the record strip 17, since the superimposing of one impression upon another will merely make the record illegible, or sufficiently so to require explanation.

With the ordinary functioning of the stamp, the record strip 17 must be fed after the making of each impression and cannot be fed without the making of an impression. The number of collections made during a day and the length of the composite record strip 16, 17 and 18 precludes all possibility of the destruction of records r ea- 32 a right line movement toward-and from the surfaces upon which matter is to be impressed, and the exposure of a portion of the perimeter of these wheels'through a sight opening. in the top'casing, not only increases the range of the variation of the records which may be impressed, but permits the use of wheels of small diameter and avoids necessity for additional mechanisms for turning the wheels or indicating the setting thereof.

While it is preferable to employ three strips 16, 17 and 18 in the-manner described, it is possible to-use' only two strips each of which is carbon coated, the lower one of which includes heavy weight coated paper 'suificiently strong to avoid likelihood of the tearing of the strip and afford a suitable surface-upon which a record may be impressed by an upper thin strip of carbon coated paper. Byusing three separate stripsyit is. possible' to use the strips of carbon paper a number of times. by, reassembling these strips in relation to a record strip after removal of the latter for making :book entries therefrom.

Ajsingle spring. 53, located midway-of the width of the U-frames *34'and '46, has been found, to .give satisfactory results. The telescoping stud 51 and sleeve, 52, in addition to aiding in guiding the movements 'of the'printing unit, also serve to prevent displacement of the spring in a manner to interferewith a proper operation of the stamp. i

'The use of ratchet wheels 39 and their cooperating. detent pawls 40constructedas described prevents not only the accidental turning of the indicia Wheels after they have been set to record the desired data, but overturning of the wheels during the setting thereof in a manner to cause the making of an imperfect and illegible impression. V

It is not my intention tolimit. the invention to the precise details iof construotion shown in the accompanyingdrawing, it being apparent that such'm'aybe varied without departing from the spirit and scope of theainvention.

Having described the invention, what I'claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is: a

1. A Jcollectors .stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an'opening through the bottom thereof,supply andrewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality of superimpcsed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towardssaid opening, :guides for said strips, an uppercasing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a'guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory'frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in saidways, a

plurality of wheels idly 1 mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of'duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when .a printing character isat the openingin the lower casing, the duplicate non printing character is atsaidsight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprocatory frame toward said-lower casing, and manually operative means acting :upon said frame to move-it awayfrom said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring-and release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame,whereby said strips :will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame.

2. A collectors ,stamp embodying therein ;-a lower casing having an opening through the "bottom thereof, and side bars having bearingfsaddles adjacent the opposite ends thereof,- supplywand rewind reels "removably mounted in said saddles,

a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing .from saidsupplyto said rewind. reel with a carbon coated surface pro-'- sented towards said opening, guides for saidstrips, anupperacasing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein akguide bracket having vertical ways, having extensions provided with bearing saddles co-operatingwith the saddles in said side bars, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft car ried thereby having its opposite-ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projectingthrough said: sight opening, each having a'plurality of 1 duplicated printing and non-printing characters so posi tioned that when a printing character is att-he opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non printing character is at said: sight opening, a

springadapted to forcesaid reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing, and manually operative-means acting upon said frame to moveit away from'said opening, tensionsai'd spring,- hold saidframe against movement'by said spring; and release said frame to. permit said springto operate thereon, and co-operating means-carried by said rewind reel'andsaid reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said. frame.

3. A 'collectors stamp embodying therein a platen'base, a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supported by, and spaced from said base, supply and rewind; reels upon oppositesides' of'said open-in 'gauplura lity of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said .rewind reel with acarbon' coated surface presented towards said'openin'g, guides for said stripsgan.

upper casing having a sight openingtherethrough, closing said lower casingmovable'therefr0m; and

havingthei'ein a guide bracket :having "vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, .;a shaft carried thereby havingits opposite vendsmounted in. said ways, a plurality of wheels idly'mounted onsaid shaft, and projecting through said; sight "opening,

each having a plurality of duplicated printingaand non-printing"characters-so positioned that when a printing character-is at the ,opening'in' the' lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at saidsight opening-2, spring adapted? to force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing, and manually operativemeans acting upon said frameto move it away from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement .by said spring, and release said frame to permit said spring to operateithereon' and co-operating means carried by saidrewi-nd reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby saidstr-ips will be advanced with each upward movement of said fram e.-v

4. A collectors stamp embodying therein a platen base, a lower-casing having an opening through the bottomthereof, supported by, and spaced from said base, plungers movably mounted in, and projecting from the bottom of said base, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing'from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards saidopening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable-therefrom, and having tliereina guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having, its opposite ends mounted in said ways, 'a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters sopositioned that when a printing character is'at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing, and manually operative means acting upon said frame to move it away from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, and cooperating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame. b V

5. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower. casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways, a

plurality of wheels idly'mounted on said shaft,

and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to .force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing, a rotatable shaft, a cam having a gradual rise and an abrupt fall, a hand crank upon said shaft, means uponsaid frame engageable by said cam, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and saidreciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward .movement of said frame.

6. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening'therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby havingits opposite ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft,

and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower'casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a stud carried by said top casing, a sleeve telescoping with said stud carried by said frame, a spring encircling said stud and said sleeve, a rotatable shaft, a cam having a gradual rise and an abrupt fall, a hand crank upon said shaft, means upon said frame engageable by said cam, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame.

'7. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having-an opening through the bottom thereof, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a stud carried by said top casing, a sleeve telescoping with said stud carried by said'frame, a spring encircling said stud and said'sleeve, a rotatable shaft, a cam having a gradual rise and an abrupt fall, a hand crank upon said shaft, means upon said frame engageable by said cam, said cam adjacent its fall having a notch therein to prevent action of the spring turning said cam, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with eachupward movement of said frame.

8. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate'non-printing character is at said sight opening, a U-frame carried reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame.

9. A collectors stamp embodying therein a platen base, a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supported by, and spaced from said base, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted n said ways, a plurality of wheels idly'mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and nonprinting characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a U-frame carried by said reciprocatory frame, having upwardly directed legs having guide slots therein, a studcan'ied by said top casing, a sleeve telescoping with said stud carried by said U-frame, a spring en ircling said stud and said sleeve, a rotatable shaft passing through said guide slots, a cam having a gradual rise and an abrupt fall, a hand crank upon said shaftgmeans upon said U-frame engageacle by said cam, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame.

10. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a retard device operative upon said supply reel, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing,

and manually operative means acting upon said,

frame to move it away from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and release said frame topermit said spring to operate thereon, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame.

11. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, and side bars having bearing saddles adjacent the opposite ends thereof, supply and rewind reels removably mounted in said saddles, a spring yoke carried by a side bar adjacent said saddle and engageable with said supply reel, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and having vertical ways, and having. extensions provided with bearing saddles co-operating with the saddles in said side bars, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its ,opposite'ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printi g characters so positioned that when a printin character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprccatory frame toward said lower casing, and manuallyoperative means acting upon said frame to move it away from said opening,-tensionsaid spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and 'release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement ofsaid frame. f

122A collectors stamp embodying thereina lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supply and rewind reels upon 0p positesides of "said opening, a plurality of superimposed stripsof record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, anupper casing having a sight opening therethrough, hingedly connected with said lower casing at one side of the opening through the bottom thereof, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, andhaving therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a 'reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite endsmounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing, and manually operative means acting upon said frame to move it way from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, and cooperating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame.

13. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said'opening, a plurality of super imposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and nonprinting characters so positioned that when'a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing and manually operative means acting upon said frame to move it away from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said other wheels, having teeth corresponding in number with the printing characters thereon, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame. I

14. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bot tom thereof, and side bars having bearing saddles adjacent the opposite ends thereof, supply and rewind reels removably mounted in said saddles, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, and having extensions provided with bearing saddles co-operating with the saddles in said sidev bars, a reoiprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing, and manually operative means acting upon said frame to move it away from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said other wheels, having teeth corresponding in number with the printing characters thereon, a spring pressed detent pawl co-operating with each ratchet wheel, and co-operating means carried by said rewind reel and said'reciprocatory frame,

whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame.

15. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, supply and rewind reels upon opposite sides of said opening, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, guides for said strips, an uppercasing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and nonprinting characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing, and manually operative means acting upon said frame to move it away from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, a ratchet wheel carried by said rewind reel, and a spring pressed pawl pivotally mounted upon, and movable with, said frame, said pawl being normally disengaged from said ratchet wheel, but engageable therewith upon the depression of said frame, whereby said rewind reel will be actuated with the upward movement of said frame.

16. A collectors stamp embodying therein a lower casing having an opening through the bottom thereof, and side bars having bearing saddles adjacent the opposite ends thereof, supply and rewind reels removably mounted in said saddles, a plurality of superimposed strips of record and carbon paper passing from said supply to said rewind reel with a carbon coated surface presented towards said opening, a frame having end plates, having a close sliding fit with said side bars respectively, and guide rods extending between said plates adjacent the opening in said lower casing, an upper casing having a sight opening therethrough, closing said lower casing, movable therefrom, and having therein a guide bracket having vertical ways, and having extensions provided with bearing saddles co-operating with the saddles in said side bars, a reciprocatory frame, a shaft carried thereby having its opposite ends mounted in said ways, a plurality of wheels idly mounted on said shaft, and projecting through said sight opening, each having a plurality of duplicated printing and non-printing characters so positioned that when a printing character is at the opening in the lower casing, the duplicate non-printing character is at said sight opening, a spring adapted to force said reciprocatory frame toward said lower casing, and manually operative means acting upon said frame to move it away from said opening, tension said spring, hold said frame against movement by said spring, and release said frame to permit said spring to operate thereon, and cooperating means carried by said rewind reel and said reciprocatory frame, whereby said strips will be advanced with each upward movement of said frame.

GEORGE J. MATT. 

